ABSTRACT
While most readers are very familiar with the use of cell phones, what may not be as familiar is the large number of applications that either are now available for use or are on the horizon. This chapter focuses on a wireless application that can provide the ability to not only use a cell phone to directly surf the Web and send and receive e-mail, but in addition, integrate a phone with a PDA. This chapter also addresses a new type of wireless technology referred to as fixed wireless, which can provide subscribers with an alternative to such broadband access methods as digital subscriber lines (DSLs) and cable modems. This chapter concludes with an examination of the use of IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs and how the a and b extensions to the standards not only permit high data rates but, in addition, allow hospital administrators to select operations within a frequency band that minimizes interference with existing equipment. Thus, the purpose of this chapter is to make the reader aware of the spectrum of relatively new and emerging wireless applications that one can consider for use.
